Antares first stage is in same family as Zenit-3SL; dimensions are same or smaller.

Antares is integrated horizontally and erected at pad as required by Sea Launch operations.

Antares is advertised as a "Delta II" class vehicle but doesn't have a polar orbit capability (required for many or most potential Antares payloads). There are difficulties associated with all west coast launch site options; Vandenberg is crowded, Kodiak has logistical and environmental constraints, and Kwajalein is worse than Kodiak. Sea Launch would offer all inclinations and a minor performance boost for low inclination orbits (or GSO if Orbital wants to develop that capability for Antares). Sea Launch would probably appreciate spreading their fixed costs over more launches.

I'm just curious how much effort would be required to adapt Odyssey and Sea Launch Commander. New launch mount and strongback would be needed, probably a HIF at Long Beach as well.

There's a million reasons this wouldn't work; what are the technical showstoppers?

Antares first stage is in same family as Zenit-3SL; dimensions are same or smaller.

Antares is integrated horizontally and erected at pad as required by Sea Launch operations.

Antares is advertised as a "Delta II" class vehicle but doesn't have a polar orbit capability (required for many or most potential Antares payloads). There are difficulties associated with all west coast launch site options; Vandenberg is crowded, Kodiak has logistical and environmental constraints, and Kwajalein is worse than Kodiak. Sea Launch would offer all inclinations and a minor performance boost for low inclination orbits (or GSO if Orbital wants to develop that capability for Antares). Sea Launch would probably appreciate spreading their fixed costs over more launches.

I'm just curious how much effort would be required to adapt Odyssey and Sea Launch Commander. New launch mount and strongback would be needed, probably a HIF at Long Beach as well.

There's a million reasons this wouldn't work; what are the technical showstoppers?

I got a better one to have "fun" with.....talks fail and Russia is forced to move all its launches to "Russia".

Ukraine or Orbital or both teamed up talk about using the Zenit launch pads of Land launch. Only difference is using Aerojet engines.

How is that for a fun idea?

Logged

2017 - Everything Old is New Again.I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~ by Thomas Alva Edison

That is up to the Kazakhstan gov to say. Note I didn't say SeaLaunch, I said Landlaunch.

SeaLaunch will prob go with a pure Russian rocket in the future. Sure that might be a fight Russia vs Ukraine. This IMHO, is only a few years off.

The Ukrainians are more open to selling their tech, and generally easier to work with. Russia has been getting more conservative about exporting their technology, and more nationalistic, in recent years. As documented in the Antares thread, this would be the reason using the RD-0124 on Antares fell through. Russia is no longer the cash-starved post-Soviet rump state of the mid-90s that joined with US firms on ILS and RD-180.

To stay on topic, Orbital has an existing presence at Vandenburg, Kodiak, and Kwaj. There's not much benefit to trying to tackle SeaLaunch versus a new pad at one of those three sites.

Chris Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Kazakhstan isn't Georgia. Look it up on a map, bad idea. As above, there are other places to build a cosmodrome.

Touche, I had somehow got it in my mind that the Cosmodrome was right on the border with Russia. Definitely isn't, and invasion isn't anything like a realistic option at this point in history. But the other methods of influence are still very much in play.

Logged

Chris Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

You think? Not if Mr. Lopota has anything to say about it. The only little problem that's holding up his plans is the lack of actual rocket factory under his control (his own factory is too small). How do you know he's not repurposing an abandoned warehouse right as we type this?

You think? Not if Mr. Lopota has anything to say about it. The only little problem that's holding up his plans is the lack of actual rocket factory under his control (his own factory is too small). How do you know he's not repurposing an abandoned warehouse right as we type this?

Which firm does Mr. Lopota work for? Don't you think Ukraine as a Sea Launch Partner will be upset if all russian rocket is used?

Logged

2017 - Everything Old is New Again.I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~ by Thomas Alva Edison

Mr. Lapota is Energia's president. The current owner of Sea Launch. And they have been dreaming of replacing the Zenit with their own Energia-K. Une interesting point is, that for those dimensions I've seen, they were using 4.1m instead of Zenit's 3.9m. Since That's Proton's core size, and Krushinev is moving to the Angara's 2.9m, he might have hopes of buying the used tooling?In any case, 4.1m is the maximum you can transport by train if you have exclusive use of the tracks (you can't have another train coming the other way).

Mr. Lapota is Energia's president. The current owner of Sea Launch. And they have been dreaming of replacing the Zenit with their own Energia-K. Une interesting point is, that for those dimensions I've seen, they were using 4.1m instead of Zenit's 3.9m. Since That's Proton's core size, and Krushinev is moving to the Angara's 2.9m, he might have hopes of buying the used tooling?In any case, 4.1m is the maximum you can transport by train if you have exclusive use of the tracks (you can't have another train coming the other way).

interesting, kinda thought one version of Angara was planned for SeaLaunch.

Logged

2017 - Everything Old is New Again.I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. ~ by Thomas Alva Edison